“…Typically, after formation of the precipitates with MB, the symmetric vibration bands of sulfonate in ABTS show a significant shift from 1124, 1032, and 656 cm –1 to 1121, 1028, and 650 cm –1 , respectively, while the N–CH 3 stretching and CN + vibration bands of MB show an obvious shift from 1178, 1141, and 1601 cm –1 to 1176, 1139, and 1600 cm –1 , respectively (Figure C). Similar phenomena were also observed for those of MG, Rh6G, and AO , (Figure S8a-c), suggesting that the encapsulation of dyes into the SIM was based on the interaction (mainly electrostatic interaction) between ABTS and the dyes. For RhB and ST, the existence of a carboxylate group in RhB and the substitute of a phenyl group in ST may weaken the electrostatic interaction with ABTS, resulting in failure in the encapsulation.…”